Passed by Atomic Speedway on I-40 at 10:29 a.m. March 25 2009. The giant race car was on fire, being burned as part of demolition of the entire track.

[kwistie, 04/14/2009]

Atomic Motor Speedway - Closed

Check out the huge race car on the side of I-40 west of Knoxville, before Kingston! It's part of Roane County's own dirt track, Atomic Speedway! A Muffler Man could drive it! YEEEHAW!

[Nikki, 07/21/2002]

Alas, Atomic Motor Speedway closed at the end of the 2006 season.

Atomic Speedway

After reading about your "Northwest Jitters" and mention of Atomic City, ID, I wondered if you knew that there was another "Atomic City." This is, of course, the nickname of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where atomic weapons were built. And would you believe there is an Atomic Speedway nearby? It's a small dirt racetrack that attracts some big crowds in good weather. As far as I know, atomic powered race cars are not allowed.

[hmurrill, 10/09/1997]

Yes, Oak Ridge's old postcards touting itself as "Home of the Atomic Bomb" were great. Paducah, KY also made the claim. Today, neither town enthusiastically embraces the claim. Oak Ridge High School has an atom symbol on the building, but the teams are known as the Wildcats.